When 24-year educator Erin Henry decided her next step was administrative leadership, she began researching programs that would prepare her for the role. Henry wanted a program that would be manageable for a working professional and parent and would also be challenging.
小蝌蚪APP淚 wanted a program that was rigorous,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 didn't want to throw money at a degree and feel like I'm throwing it away; I wanted to learn.小蝌蚪APP
The M.Ed. in Educational Leadership at the 小蝌蚪APP seemed to be just the right fit.
"I looked at a lot of different programs, and I feel like UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 program really offered the most value," she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚t was designed for working professionals 小蝌蚪APP rigorous and challenging but also accommodating.小蝌蚪APP
Now that Henry is preparing to graduate with her Master of Education, she says got what she came for 小蝌蚪APP not only a degree, but an education.
Relevant courses
Students enroll as a cohort in the Master of Education in Educational Leadership each Fall. Joining as a cohort 小蝌蚪APP and the program小蝌蚪APP檚 hybrid format 小蝌蚪APP was appealing to Henry. She found she brought a unique perspective to her cohort, both as a private school educator and administrator.
Although she could not officially use the title, Henry has served as assistant principal at Catholic High in New Iberia for two years 小蝌蚪APP the entire duration of her master小蝌蚪APP檚 program. Filling that role meant she could link her coursework directly to her position and her position to her coursework.
小蝌蚪APP淥ne of the things that I was told when researching programs was that what you learn in class one night, you could go back and use immediately the next day. I found that to be very true,小蝌蚪APP says Henry.
Legal, Regulatory, and Ethical Issues 小蝌蚪APP EDLD 502 小蝌蚪APP was of special interest, but Henry says all of her courses were impactful, from developing gap analyses to vision plans and school improvement plans.
小蝌蚪APP淚 loved them all for different reasons,小蝌蚪APP she says.
Manageable program
Henry小蝌蚪APP檚 role meant she not only had a different perspective than many in her cohort, she also had different responsibilities.
However, the program's hybrid format made it possible to maintain a balance.
小蝌蚪APP淚 had extra duties such as game supervision,小蝌蚪APP she says. "Someone's got to be the person to supervise and to support the officials if there's an issue. So that was a little time consuming early on but nothing I couldn't handle because of the way that the program was designed.小蝌蚪APP
Students take two courses each semester in the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. Courses alternate each week, with students meeting for one class and completing coursework for the other course online.
The hybrid format, along with her husband小蝌蚪APP檚 support, helped Henry remain present during a pivotal time in her daughter's education.
小蝌蚪APP淚 was going through the program during my daughter's junior and senior years of high school, and she was a very involved senior between clubs and captain of the dance team and studio dance,小蝌蚪APP says Henry. 小蝌蚪APP淪o, personally, there was a lot that I was juggling, but I still felt like the way the program worked allowed me to be successful in those areas, as well.小蝌蚪APP
Accommodating faculty
Not only did the program design facilitate Henry小蝌蚪APP檚 success, but support from professors 小蝌蚪APP many of whom are or have been administrators 小蝌蚪APP was also significant.
小蝌蚪APP淐ommunicate with your professors. They offer all their contact information for good reason,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭he professors were wonderful as long as I communicated with them ahead of time. They were very supportive and very accommodating.小蝌蚪APP
Henry also had buy-in from her high school principal.
"My principal was very supportive,小蝌蚪APP says Henry. 小蝌蚪APP淪he knew which days were reserved for class time and structured my extra duties accordingly."
And just as attaining her degree was a priority, so is celebrating.
小蝌蚪APP淭hat day is our senior orientation day, but because [my principal] is very supportive, she said, 小蝌蚪APP榃e will man the ship without you. We need you to attend your graduation.小蝌蚪APP櫺◎蝌紸PP